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« A Signing Day All of Us Can Celebrate! | Main | Mental Illness, Hard Streets and Public Policy »

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The New Mayor of Motown

By Gerald Britt
May 9, 2009

Detroit is not my favorite city, and the Pistons were never my favorite NBA team, but years ago, Dave Bing was one of my favorite basketball superstars. Dave Bing is now mayor of Detroit!

Detroit Pistons great and political newcomer Dave Bing made a dramatic political debut Tuesday, riding a platform as a change agent to a come-from-behind upset of Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr.

With light turnout, Bing outlasted Cockrel, the son of a political icon, by 52-48 percent. Bing serves until year's end and should take office in about a week once the results are certified by the Board of Canvassers. Cockrel returns to lead the council, a post he held before becoming mayor in September when Kwame Kilpatrick resigned and went to jail.

"The real work starts now," said Bing, 65, an NBA Hall of Famer and owner of the Bing Group, to loud cheers at the Doubletree Suites Fort Shelby Hotel.
"What we will bring ... is efficiency, transparency, honesty and integrity back to the mayor's office."

Detroit is not one of the healthiest cities in America, to put it mildly. With a family median income of under $35,000 and per capita income of under $15,000, plummeting housing values, a totally decimated auto industry and an unemployment rate hovering near 15%, one would wonder why anyone would want the job!

But Detroit is still Detroit. Its the city that gave us Motown (the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye), Aretha Franklin. The Tigers, the Red Wings, the Lions and yes, the Pistons - not to mention Henry Ford. My personal feelings about the city aside, Detroit is legendary and important.

And Dave Bing, NBA Hall of Famer, and one of the first African-American professional basketball players to transition from the hardcourt to the boardroom, is Mayor.

Bing completes the term of Kwame Kilpatrick who left office after being convicted of two charges of obstruction of justice in a corruption scandal in September of last year.

The new Mayor is used to challenges, but this is big! But you have to say congratulations. Its another reason to be a fan!

Published May 9, 2009 by Gerald Britt | Permalink | Tags: Michigan Music Politics

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